The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-10-27
MY FIRST SEAL.

"What's on for tomorrow asked Reggie
Freeth, as we sat along the top of our garden
wall, resting ourselves We-that is, Reggie
and Evelyn Freeth, Ned Mitchell and myself
had just been INDUCING in half mile squirt
down the road, getting ourselves Unto wind"
as we fondly imagined, for our coming school
games. 1t was nearly midsummer of the
year o. and Friday evening, so that the
next day was our own.
81 vote we take our trip to Inch Mickery,"
said Ned Mitchell. "Uncle John told me we
could have the Curlew's gig any fine day we
liked, so that we promised not to take the sail
with us. He thinks we'd go skylarkng and
capsize her under canvas, so he will only let
US have the oars; but l can tell you, we four
| fellows can make her hiss through the water.
| We must start early and make regular day
Of it. Take plenty of grub to keep US going
till night"
The proposition was carried by acclama-
tion for this Inch Mickery trip was pleasure
that we had long looked forward to, and this
seemed a most propitious time to carry it out
"Ah! happy years! once more who would not be
bOy?"
Byron was right. What happy-truly
happy-days were those when tive were boys
Jogether!"
Where are they now-theSe friends of tine
golden days of youth! Regge-open hearted,
rHivarous, Quixotic Reggie! Away on a
stubbornly fought field in South Africa,
while nobiy trying to hold your own against
overwhelming odds, you fell, pierced by the
Zulu assegai, the victim of one of highlands
many senseess 'little wars" Evelyn-the
Staid, steady, systematic Evelyn-is now
noted lawyer on the Home Circuit in Eng
land making a name and money fast. Ned
merry, witty, practical joking Ned-away
out on a Texas ranch, you lead that free and
easy, unconventional life to which you are
suited. And well Pm the "hero" of this.
So, Inch Mickery, at o'clock sharp the
next morning, was the word. | was &c
provide the commiSsariat, as it was
well known that my poor, dear, old
mother always made rs out an ample
and recherche basket. The Freeths were to
bring fishing tackle and small Rock rifle
with ammunition, while Ned was to make it
all right with his Uncle John about the boat
Inch Mickery was Tor, for that matter, is
for don't see how any change could ever be
worked on it unless some of those He'll Gate
engineers got at i0 very small, rocky island
in Scotch firth.
That bright, dewy, June morning saw us
early enough down at Granton harbor, and
after much grumbling, interspersed with
curious, nautical, eXpletory oathS, the old,
one eyed skipper of the Curlew delivered
over to us his precious gig, respondent in q
coat of green and gold, with the parting in
junction, "Not TO be knocliin' and griudin'
the - paint Off o the boat on them ---
rocks"
The sun was shining brightly as we rounded
the pier head, and dived into the long, rolling
swell outside, which told of recent blow"
out somewhere on the German ocean.
Nature seemed smiling on us. We had all
the glorious beauties of the winding firth
untollcd before us like some grand panorama
Here, on n jutting promontory, boldly stood
out the old, square, ivicd keep of Royston, as
dark and defiant as when hundreds of years
ago it held its own against the attack of az
quebus and cuverin, but now, instead of gal
LIANT knights and men at arms, its only inhab-
itants are the pert noisy jackdaws, or the
dashing, screaming swifts. There, peeping
out from the wealth of noble oaks and stately
elms, is the picturesque mansion of the Lord
of Roseberry, the headquarters of the G. o.
NJ in those celebrated Midlothian cam
paigns. Here some lovely demeSne with the
emerald sward Competing the slopes to the rip
ping sea- and then u castle, grim and gray,
standing out in bold relief. Away in the far
distance looms the lordly Ochils. the blue
haZy SUBMITS seeming to melt away into the
June clouds, while Oh our side the Pentlands
rear their purple, heath clad heads A fair
and lovely scene And after long, long days
and wandcrings here and there | can shut my
eyes and fancy once again that | am floating
OH the waters of the beautcous Forth.
We rowcd merrily out into the firth and
shaped our course for the island of our choice
and rolling along gloriously over the long,
surging swell The Hen and Chickens is in
one mass of white foam, as the big rollers
break over the gregarious rocks which rejoice
in the above innocent name, warning us that
we cannot attempt a landing on the Inch ex-
cept on the western side.
Sure enough, when we reach our deStina-
ton we find it in one seething mass of foam,
too, but giving it a pretty wide berth, we
pull round and glide into the smooth water
on the lee side.
1t does not take long to find a good, safe
haven for our boat, where the precious paint
will not suffer from those sanguinary rocks,
denounced by the Cyclopean skipper of the
Curlew, and we quickly unload our provis-
ions, and proceed at once to fix on a spot for
our camp kitchen. \ nice, coy nook is soon
selected; and after collecting plentiful sup
ply of driftwood, and getting the fire going
cheerily, We settle down to our respective
avocations. By unanimous vote Evelyn is
installed cook, as his skill in the culinary art
is well known, and we know be cares not for
anything in the sporting line.
Ned and Reggie take out the boat in lee
of the island and commence war on the